Local Experts Offer Practical Ideas for an Elegant Event

Life is full of reasons to celebrate. One such occasion is a wedding, one special day that celebrates love, devotion and the beginning of married life. Whether the event is formal or casual, traditional or funky, it is all about the bride and her vision of the day.

Given the amount of importance piled onto this special day, it is understandable that planning a wedding can be a laborious and stressful task. We’ve asked local experts from Show Low, Snowflake and Payson to share ideas on planning a mountain wedding. Whether a large affair or an intimate gathering, our local experts can help you
make a plan, work with your budget and make your special day picture perfect.

The Dress

Perhaps a small detail, but very important is the bridal wear, namely the dress. For our photo shoot, Lisa Ault of the Bridal Fair
in Show Low outfitted our models in just a handful of the beautiful dresses she offers in her store in Show Low. If you are in the market for the perfect gown, call her at (928) 537-8720.

The Photos

When everything is said and done, your memories and wedding photos will last a lifetime. Your photographer has the all important job of capturing the day and the tiny moments that really tell the story.

In our business, we meet a lot of great photographers, but when it came to organizing every detail of this beautiful bridal shoot, Heather Flanders made it happen.

In addition to years behind the lens, Heather is remarkable when it comes to working with her subjects, creating beautiful scenes and props and is just a lot of fun to work with. Her sweet, upbeat attitude coupled with an attention to detail make for beautiful photos and a great experience. Heather also prides herself of working with any budget to make professional photos a reality for any bride. To see more of Heather’s work, please visit her website at www.heatherflandersphotography.com. She can also be reached at 928-242-8721.

The Look

One inexpensive luxury that can make all the difference in the world (and in your pictures!) is hiring a makeup artist. Our models Pamela Reed who is actually getting married in a few months (at far right), Brittan Pyper (at top right with DJ Brimhall), Allison Antoni (our infamous Helldorado Girl and cover girl at middle right) and Naomi Peterson (at bottom right) are all beautiful girls who absolutely glowed after the professional touch of Janelle Devin. “A professional will ensure that your wedding party looks ‘put together’. If you have any bridesmaids who need some help, it is a great opportunity to teach them some new tricks,” laughs professional make up artist Janelle Devin, “Your makeup will look absolutely perfect. Your makeup artist knows how makeup will look in a picture. So, your pictures will be perfect and you will come out looking like a magazine model.”

Janelle’s passion for her business began in high school “doing everyone’s makeup for prom” and continued through becoming licensed and working in a salon and spa in the Valley specializing in bridal makeup. New to the White Mountains, Janelle offers service that comes to you equipped with everything necessary. At her affordable prices for makeup, you can be sure the money you spend on pictures will be even better spent.

I asked Janelle about this season’s makeup trends and she advises, “I would say keep it light and simple. You don’t want to do anything too heavy on the eyes or the lips. No dark colors. Soft and dewy is the trend we are seeing. A lot of girls are using the pinks and the peaches.” For more information, please contact Janelle at 480-836-4526.

The Place

The White Mountains boasts a variety of beautiful locations to tie the knot. For a unique venue that boasts elegance, charm and the ability to entertain even the largest of wedding parties, be sure to check out the Heritage Inn in Snowflake.

This beautiful bed and breakfast was recently featured in Arizona Highways as one of Arizona’s best kept secrets. This picturesque venue not only features the most beautiful ballroom in the White Mountains, but innkeepers Craig and JoAnne Guderian also offer the ability to book the entire inn at a price that is absolutely out of this world. Bridal parties have a ball room, lodging, full use of the grounds for photos and even breakfast for less than $2,000! For more information, please visit their website at www.heritage-inn.net or give them a call at 928-536-3322.

The Cake

So much more than the sum of its ingredients, no wedding would be right without a cake. The things that can be done with cake are truly mind boggling. If you can think it, a great cake maker will express it in… well, cake.

As part of our wedding photo shoot, Jennifer Baldwin of The Moonlight Cakery in Show Low brought a beautiful three tiered cake (that was as tasty as it was pretty) to showcase the use of fondant and flowers. According to Jennifer, “This year’s trend is to use a lot of bright colors. We are seeing pinks with chocolate browns, aqua with black. The trend seems to be towards simple, understated elegance. Also, daisies are big this year. It is a good year for daisies.”

In addition to a cake that is fresh and made from scratch, local cake makers are also dedicated to working with the bride’s vision and budget. “We have something for just about every budget. The Moonlight Cakery will help you explore creative ways to work within your numbers and also have a deliciously unforgettable cake! Additionally, mention this article for free delivery and set up within Show Low, Lakeside & Pinetop,” says Jennifer. Jennifer can be reached at 928-242-6408.

Another fantastic bakery offering wedding cakes is The Red Elephant Bakery & Cafe in Payson. At the Red Elephant, all cakes are made from scratch using 100% natural ingredients, with no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or trans fats. Organic ingredients are used when possible. Red Elephant Bakery even offers specialty cake and pastry formulations for clients with food allergies or gluten intolerance. Complimentary consultations including a tasting of cake options is available to those planning their upcoming weddings. Couples are even invited into the kitchen with the chef to experiment with stacking different shapes and sizes of cake pans to help them decide on the perfect arrangement for their wedding. In addition to the wedding cake, Red Elephant offers a variety of groom’s cakes and can also offer specialty pastries and petit fours for the groom’s dinner or party favors. Last year, the bakery created a Groom’s cake replica of an Aspen tree stump, complete with a young lovers inspired heart carving containing the initials of the couple! For more information about the Red Elephant Bakery, please call 928-468-6202.

The Ring

Much like your photos, your choice of bridal jewelry will serve as a symbol and reminder of your wedding day long after the cake is eaten and the bouquet is thrown. On your finger ‘until death do you part,’ quality is important when it comes to bridal jewelry.

Local jeweler Stephen Vaeth of Helmut the Jeweler is a third generation jeweler who knows how to craft a ring that can withstand the test of time. In addition to offering a lifetime guarantee (especially important for men’s rings), Stephen is happy to help newlyweds-to-be choose rings that fit their finger as well as their budget.

According to Stephen, hot trends this year include the ever popular white gold, vintage rings and using Moissanite (a quality stone with the look of diamond without the price tag). Another trend is to ‘recycle’ the center stone of heirloom jewelry into a new set, making what is old new again.

Helmut the Jeweler also offers an elegant array of gifts for the bridesmaids (matching necklaces starting at only $45 and charm bracelets including the hot new Pandora bead bracelets) and groomsmen (wallets, watches, pocket knives and flasks).

For more information, please call Helmut the Jeweler at 928-532-4454. They are located at 100 N. White Mountain Blvd Suite 105 in Show Low.

The Food

For elegant presentation and food that is as delicious as it is gorgeous, look no further than Reh’s Catering. In just a few words, owner Ray Hackey is the man. For our shoot, Ray offered up a gorgeous (and very tasty) variety of beef, chicken, fish, pork and even shrimp entrees.

Not only can he work with nearly any budget, but his fun loving personality and showmanship are always a crowd pleaser. For more information, please visit his website at www.rehscatering.net or give him a jingle at 928-205-3536.

The Planner

If you are looking for a professional that can help you pull it all together, think of Deborah at Celebrations in Snowflake. “We can put your mind at rest and handle all your needs from catering to sweeping up the rice. Celebrations can customize a package that will suit your needs. You give us your budget and your desires and we will put the plan in motion,” notes Deborah, “Celebrations catering style presents a bountiful buffet of foods that create a casual but elegant dining experience.

Our food presentations range from beautiful meat, cheese and fruit platters to an array of tasteful appetizers, salads and desserts. My company Celebrations is a dream I have pulled together and brought to our community based on my lifetime experiences in the Service Industry from planning Major Events to Dinner for Two.” Celebrations is located at 60 South Main Street in downtown Snowflake. You can reach Deborah at 928.457.0198.

The Flowers

Since the dawn of time, flowers have always been a hallmark of a wedding. The choice of color and feel for the event is often reflected and remembered in petals and greenery. When it comes to budgeting for your flowers, you can save time and cash by giving your local florist an idea of what you want and allowing them to work with your budget. Local florist Olivia of Silvercreek Flowers and Gifts (in Snowflake) notes on her policy, ““All weddings are unique to us. That is why when some people ask for wedding package rates, we don’t necessarily have package offers. However, we do offer a beautiful wedding bouquet and boutineer starting at just $75. It is important to us that the bride gets exactly what she wants at a price made for her budget. I have done an entire wedding with six attendants for under $200. We offer personalized, custom service.”

When it comes to flower trends for this season, Olivia comments, “The traditional garden clutch bouquet (shown at left as done by Olivia) is on its way out. It is still beautiful and practical, but many brides are opting for arrangements featuring a single kind of flower (like all daisies for instance) with no greenery or filler. Overall, I say don’t worry about trends, go with what you like. When it comes to weddings this year, everything that is old is new again.” Olivia also offers silk arrangements for lasting memories.

Speaking of trends, long standing and highly regarded florist Marilyn Dedman of Payson Florist and Gifts (voted Best Florist and Best Gift Shop in Payson) is an expert when it comes to ‘forest weddings’ in the high country. Over the years, Marilyn has worked with a number of brides that choose to use nature as the backdrop of their wedding and opt for a very ‘wildflower look’ to their bouquets. As a result, Marilyn uses and suggests lupines, daisies and other colorful wildflowers. For more information on forest weddings and appropriate wildflowers for bouquets, call Marilyn at 928.474.0710.